Commanders Cut Struggling Kicker Matt Gay After Costly Misses—Who Will Washington Sign Next?

The Washington Commanders have released veteran kicker Matt Gay, ending a turbulent stint that saw the normally reliable specialist struggle through the first half of the 2025 season. The move comes one day after Gay missed a pair of critical attempts in the 24-23 loss to the Miami Dolphins at Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, a game that dropped Washington to 4-6 and intensified scrutiny of its special-teams unit. Gay, 31, converted just 14 of 21 field-goal tries (66.7 percent) and 18 of 20 extra points in 10 games—well below his career averages. He entered the year with an 87.5 percent success rate and a Pro Bowl nod on his résumé, but lingering hip soreness and erratic mechanics derailed his consistency, according to team sources. Head coach Dan Quinn called the decision “painful but necessary” as Washington heads into its bye week. “We have playoff aspirations, and every point matters,” Quinn said in a statement. “Matt’s track record speaks for itself, yet we must act in the team’s best interest.” Special-teams coordinator Nate Kaczor will stage an open competition Wednesday, with veteran free agents Rodrigo Blankenship and Jake Verity among scheduled tryouts, league sources told Sports Illustrated. Rookie UDFA Jonathan Cruz, currently on the practice squad, is also a candidate if Washington opts for an in-house promotion. The Commanders owe Gay $1.25 million in dead money but free up a roster spot and roughly $900,000 in cap space. For a club still eyeing a late-season surge behind quarterback Drake Maye and a resurgent defense, tightening the kicking game is priority one. Potential landing spots for Gay include the injury-plagued Chicago Bears, who lost Cairo Santos to a groin strain, and the New England Patriots, whose rookie Chad Ryland has hit just 73 percent of his kicks. Gay cleared waivers earlier this season after a brief Colts release, suggesting interest may hinge on a team-friendly veteran-minimum deal. Fantasy-football impact: Expect Commanders skill players to see a modest boost in TD-or-bust scenarios until the new kicker proves dependable. Bettors should also monitor Washington’s field-goal tendencies in Week 12; Quinn could lean more heavily on fourth-down conversions in fringe range. Key career highlights • 2019: Drafted by Tampa Bay in Round 5; scored rookie-season franchise record 124 points. • 2021: Won Super Bowl LVI with the Los Angeles Rams. • 2023: Set Colts single-season FG accuracy record at 93.0 percent. With winter weather looming and playoff races tightening, accuracy under pressure is paramount. Whether Matt Gay can rediscover his All-Pro form elsewhere—or whether Washington’s next kicker becomes the missing piece—will shape NFC outcomes in the weeks ahead.